Effects of Weather on the Severity of Menstrual Symptoms Among College- and High School-Going Women in the Southern Regions of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The effects of weather on the severity of menstrual symptoms have been a topic of interest and research for many years. While some studies have shown a correlation between weather conditions and increased severity of menstrual symptoms, others have found no significant relationship. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to assess the effects of weather on the severity of menstrual symptoms among women going to college and high school in the southern regions of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted targeting all women going to college and high school in southern regions of Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were entered and analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), and stored with no attempts to identify the participants. RESULTS: The study included 484 participants; most of them were 20-30 years old; 64.5% had regular menstrual cycles. It was observed that mood fluctuations, bloating, difficulty concentrating, breast pain, irritability, anxiety, social isolation, feeling tired, headaches, and mood changes are all affected to some degree before and during menstruation. On the other hand, the amount of blood, duration of the course, physical activity during menstruation, nutritional habits, lower back pain, and sleep disorders showed varying percentages of impact. These findings provide valuable insights into the physiological and psychological changes that occur during the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the relationship between weather and the severity of menstrual symptoms is a complex and multifaceted topic. While some women may perceive a correlation between certain weather conditions and an increase in symptom severity, the scientific evidence in support of this connection is still limited and inconclusive. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to provide evidence-based recommendations for managing menstrual symptoms in relation to weather conditions.

The Relationship Between Gestational Diabetes and Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review.

This study aims to examine the relationship between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the likelihood of postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and the Wiley Online Library were systematically searched for relevant literature. Our results included eight studies with a total of 4,209 women diagnosed with GDM and/or PPD. The prevalence of PPD in women diagnosed with GDM ranged from 6.5% to 48.4%. The included studies demonstrated that PPD was more likely to strike women with GDM. One study reported that the most severe type of GDM is more likely to occur in those with a history of depression. Perinatal depression during pregnancy can be strongly predicted by age, BMI, and a personal history of depression. The findings imply that GDM and the likelihood of depression during the postpartum phase are related. It was also found that there was a positive correlation between depression and the chance of having GDM. This emphasizes how the association between GDM and depression appears to be reciprocal. However, the association does not imply causation, and the data at hand do not allow for the establishment of causality. Subsequent studies ought to endeavor to show causative connections between GDM and depression as well as pinpoint shared underlying endocrine variables that may play a role in the genesis of both conditions. The available information that is now available is limited due to the complexity of the etiology of both GD and depression in pregnant women; nonetheless, prevention of both conditions depends on a better understanding of the link between GD and depression. The risk of bias in the included studies was moderate to high.

Prevalence, Pattern, and Predictors of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and consequences of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among Saudi women are not well understood. Consequently, the purpose of this research is to ascertain the frequency, course, and contributing factors of PMDD and PMS in the Asir area of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Asir, Saudi Arabia, using a pre-designed questionnaire distributed among adult female patients to five primary healthcare facilities (PHCs) that were chosen at random in the Asir Region. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 15). RESULTS: The study included 506 participants; 81% of them were Saudi and 19% were non-Saudi. A percentage (46.2%) of the participants were aged between 21 and 30 years old. A total of 369 (72.9%) participants have PMS. Regarding PMS symptoms, 79.1% reported mood changes, 59.3% tantrums, 56.7% change in appetite, 47% acne, 41.9% back and joint pain, and 43.1% reported sleep disorders. Almost half (42.1%) of the participants receive treatment to relieve the symptoms of PMS (72% of them receive paracetamol and 6.1% receive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)). Some (6.4%) exercise during the menstrual cycle to relieve symptoms of PMS, while 31% eat healthy foods at the time of period to relieve the symptoms of PMS. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PMS/PMDD was among the reported figures worldwide. There was a significant association between age and the use of contraceptives with symptoms of PMS/PMDD among the studied sample.

A Systematic Review of Tactile Functioning in Blind Children From a Clinical Perspective.

In the literature, there is a lot of variation in how well visually impaired youngsters can distinguish between tactile images. This systematic review investigated tactile functioning approaches' clinical perspective on blind children. PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched to include the relevant literature. Rayyan QCRI was used throughout this systematic approach. The study included nine studies with a total of 394 children, 246 (62.4%) were males, and 148 (37.6%) were females. Textured graphical objects, images, drawings, and illustrations were used as stimuli to test tactile functioning in blind children. The findings of this comprehensive review showed that tactile stimuli for blind children were most effective in the form of textured images, words, and objects. It has been shown that the complexity, familiarity, and category information all influence how easy or challenging picture recognition is. Blind people can effectively use pictorial displays, but when foreshortening is used in complex representations of three-dimensional objects, they may benefit from instruction.